| Writing Contests for Secondary Students
"Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of 15."
Willa Cather
Before entering any writing or poetry contest, please check out these warnings from SFWA,
the professional science fiction and fantasy writers' organization.
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Contest
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Requirements
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Award
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Ann Arlys Bowler Poetry Contest
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Grades 6-12
Deadline: Jan. 31, 2007
Sponsored by Weekly Reader
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Publication in Reed magazine
$100 and a medal
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ARTSAwards sponsored by National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts
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Seniors only
Fee required
Registration deadline: Oct. 2, 2006
Portfolio deadline: November 1, 2006
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Ayn Rand Institute
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Essay contest based on works by Ayn Rand
9th-10th grade: Anthem
11th-12 grade: The Fountainhead
EntryDeadline: March 20, 2007
Topics and rules on website
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FIRST PRIZE: $2,000
5 SECOND PRIZES: $500
10 THIRD PRIZES: $200
45 FINALISTS: $50 Cash Awards
175 SEMIFINALISTS: $30 Cash Awards
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Creative Communications
Essay Writing Contest
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Essay contest for students in grades 4-12 in the United States and Canada
Topic: Student choice
Ongoing contest with deadlines twice a school year
Site has winning essay examples, teacher resources, and help for student writers
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Top Ten essays in each grade division (4-6; 7-9; 10-12) will receive a $50 savings bond and a free copy of the anthology that is created from the contest.
Schools that have 15 or more students accepted to be published will receive a Writing Achievement Award. These schools will receive a certificate, special recognition in the anthology and qualify to apply for one of two $250 grants that we give to two schools in each state or region.
Teachers with 5 or more students accepted to be published will receive a free copy of the anthology that includes their student writers
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Creative Communications
Poetry Writing Contest
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Poetry contest for K-12
Nathan Evans, 12th grade, CRHS a Spring 2006 winner
Ongoing contest: Upcoming deadlines: August 15th, December 5th 2006 and April 5th, 2007
FAQ
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Published in anthology, $50 savings bond, and copy of anthology
School can be eligible for $250 grant
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Fire Escape Writing Contest for Teens Between Cultures
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13-19
For immigrant writers or writers with at least one parent from another country
Poetry or fiction
Submit between Sept. 1, 2006 and June 1, 2007
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George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest sponsored by Sons of the American Revolution—local, state, and national levels
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Sophomore, junior, or senior
Original, researched topic related to an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or framing of Constitution
800-1000 words + title page, bibliography, and biography of writer
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First place: $3,000 and trip to Dallas for SAR Congress
Second: $2,000
Third: $1,000
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Guideposts
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Juniors and Seniors
Maximum 1200 words
First-person story about a memorable or moving experience. MUST be true
Deadline Nov. 22, 2006
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Houston Chronicle/George Christian Book and Author essay contest (last year’s info)
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Junior or senior
Teachers send top three entries
Choose 1 of 4 prompts
1-3 double-spaced pages
Deadline in late September
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$100
3 Tickets to Book and Author dinner (student, parent, teacher)
Essay published in on Chronicle’s website
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Kids Are Authors sponsored by Scholastic
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K-8
Picture books written collaboratively by groups of 3 or more
March 15, 2007
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Publication and distribution of book
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National Peace Essay Contest sponsored by United States Institute of Peace
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Deadline: Feb. 1st, 2007
Good for debaters--2005 topic dealt with nuclear proliferation
Teaching guide available
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Winners at state and national levels
$1000-$10,000
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NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing
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High school juniors
Must be nominated by school
Deadeline Feb. 2, 2007
Need school coordinator/nominating teacher
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NCTE Promising Young Writers
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8th grade
Must be nominated by school
Details available in October
Needs school coordinator/nominating teacher
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Poetry Society of Texas
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Lists 54 separate contests with varying topics.
28 lines or fewer
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Publication in anthology
Award varies
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Princeton University Poetry Prize
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Scholastic Art and Writing
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District deadline early November
7-12 grade
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Campus, District, Regional, National Recognition
Publication and cash awards at regional level and up
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Take Me Away Writing Contest (poetry or short shory) sponsored by Weekly Reader
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Judged by Ursula K. Le Guin
Deadline: Nov. 22, 2006
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Publication in Writing and cash prize
Signed copy of Ursula K. Le Guin book
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Teen Ink
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Biannual Fiction Contest
Great venue for student publication
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The Writing Conference, Inc
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Elementary through high school
Deadline, Jan. 8, 2007
2007 topic concerns change
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Publication in The Writer’s Slate
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What’s Your Story Student Publication Award sponsored by Weekly Reader
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Award for student publication AND individual nonfiction writing published in student publication
2006 rules and deadlines not yet posted
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More Writing Contests
Cricket League Story Contest, Cricket League, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354, http://www.cricketmag.com/activity_display.asp?id=30. Monthly contests. Read website for complete rules. FEE: NONE. PRIZES: Publication.
QUARTERLY: Ongoing Essay Contest, sponsored by KidsCanDoIt.com, c/o Sandra Humphrey, 19 Westwood Road, Minnetonka, MN 55305. "In 300 words or less, tell us your true story about the most difficult decision you've had to make between right and wrong. New winners will be picked every three months." FEE: NONE. PRIZE: $50.
"Shout Out" Teen Writing Contest, Next Step Publishing, Inc., 86 W. Main St., Victor, NY 14564, 1-800-771-3117. "The Next Step Magazine seeks first-person accounts written by teens for teens about subjects like peer pressure, politics, friends, world events, culture, dating or other relevant topics. Be creative, and create your own topic!" FEE: NONE. PRIZE: $100.
TEEN INK ESSAY CONTESTS, monthly and semi-annual. Lots of categories! Interview, Nonfiction, "What Matters Most," Poetry, Cover Photo, Art & Photography, Fiction, Travel & Culture, Environment, and the chance to win $100 for your favorite charity with "Community Service Awards." Great opportunity for student artists, photographers, and writers.
ESSAY CONTEST FOR KIDS, sponsored by author Linda Joy Singleton, P.O Box 1357, Galt. CA 95632. For details and entry form, visit http://www.lindajoysingleton.com/alien_essay_contest.htm. FEE: NONE. PRIZES: 1st=$100, 2nd=$50, and five honorable mentions will receive an autographed book.
: A monthly writing contest for kids ages 13 and under. Be brief! Only 75 words allowed.
Kids' Mystery Contest, ongoing contest sponsored by Candlelight Press, details at http://www.candlelightstories.com/Mystery.asp.
Consumers Union Report on Contests: Fifteen pages of student contests. Visit http://www.ConsumersUnion.org/other/captivekids/SEMs_contests.htm.
Student Poetry Contest: The American Library of Poetry, P.O. Box 978, Houlton, ME 04730, (506) 328-4964, . "The Student Poetry Contest is for school age children enrolled in grades 4-12, including tutored and home schooled children. Entrants judged in four divisions: grades 4-5, grades 6-7, grades 8-9, and grades 10-12. FEE: NONE. PRIZES: U.S. Savings Bond and Certificate of Achievement. (Please see website, http://www.libraryofpoetry.com/about.html, for complete details and samples of previous winners.)
GigglePoetry.com: sponsored by Meadowbrook Press, 5451 Smetana Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343. This site offers fun activities, humorous examples, and lots of teaching ideas--great for kids, homeschool parents, and teachers. Fun to explore!
ANNUAL - JANUARY: John F. Kennedy "Profiles in Courage" Essay Contest, begins September each year, deadline in early January. Open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. territories; and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas. For complete details visit http://www.jfkcontest.org/index.htm.
ANNUAL - FEBRUARY: IMPAC-Connecticut State University Young Writers Program, Connecticut State University System, 39 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105-2337. Deadline: February every year. A statewide competition for students ages 13-18 during the school year. Win $1,000 for a poem, essay or work of fiction. For complete details visit http://www.owlibrary.org/IMPAC/impac_young_writers_info.htm.
ANNUAL - MARCH: "What the Gettysburg Address Means to Me" Essay Contest, Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, P.O. Box 3372, Gettysburg, PA 17325, http://www.gettysburg.edu/academics/cwi/Lincoln_Fellowship/index.htm, click on "Essay Contest." All entrants must be 7th and 8th grade students. FEE: NONE. PRIZE: $100 plus trip to Gettysburg, PA. PLEASE NOTE: IF THE SITE IS DOWN, THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL. CHECK BACK LATER. THANKS!
ANNUAL - APRIL: Holocaust Remembrance Essay Contest, information available in September, deadline mid-April every year. A national essay contest for high school students designed to encourage and promote the study of the Holocaust. For complete details visit http://holocaust.hklaw.com.
ANNUAL - NOVEMBER: Guideposts Young Writers Contest. For all junior and senior high school students. Entrants must write a first-person story about a memorable or moving experience they have had. Stories must be the true personal experience of the writer (up to 1,200 words). For complete rules visit http://www.guidepostsmag.com/young_writers_contest_rules.asp.
ANNUAL - DECEMBER: Columbia College Chicago Young Authors Fiction. For all 9th-12th grade students. Two categories: Fiction and Creative Nonfiction (2,500 words max.). For complete details visit http://fiction.colum.edu/news/yac.html.
Venues for Student Publication
The Apprentice Writer (annual deadline: March 1st, for publication in September)
Gary Fincke
Writers' Institute Director
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1001
http://www.susqu.edu/writers/apprentice.htm
Publishes the written work and photography/graphics by U.S. high school students (grades 9-12)
chixLIT
Maria D. Laso, Editor
PO Box 12051
Orange CA 92859
http://www.chixlit.com/index.html
A literary 'zine by and for girls (ages 7-17).
Creative Kids
Submissions Editor
P.O. Box 8813
Waco, TX 76714-8813
http://www.prufrock.com/client/client_pages/prufrock_jm_createkids.cfm
The nation's largest magazine by and for kids ages 8-14. Material may include cartoons, songs, stories between 800 and 900 words, puzzles, photographs, artwork, games, activities, editorials, poetry, and plays.
Crunch Online
Sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics
1990 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 502-7300
Main home page for CRUNCH, submissions guidelines at http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/crunch/SubmitFeatures.asp
To provide a forum for kids to share ideas and get published. Online submissions only.
CyberKids
Able Minds, Inc.
1750-1 30th St. #170
Boulder, CO 80301-1024
(303) 413-0914
http://www.cyberkids.com/he/html/submit.html
Art and written submissions for audience ages 7-12
KidAuthors.com
(Online submissions only)
http://www.kidauthors.com/
Stories and poems.
KidsOnlineMagazine.com
Brumlow Design Ventures
Texas City, TX
(281) 221-4694
http://www.kidsonlinemagazine.com/
Articles, stories, recipes, crafts, and artwork by kids, for kids.
MidLink Magazine, The Digital Magazine by Students, for Students Ages 8 - 18
Caroline McCullen, Editor-in-Chief
Instructional Technologist, SAS inSchool
SAS Campus Drive
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 531-2869
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/call.htm
"Highlighting exemplary student work from the most creative classrooms from around the globe."
(NOTE: Remember, home education is also considered a "classroom." Also, be aware this site requires Internet access
and possibly a web site to display your student's work. See website for project ideas.)
New Moon For Girls
34 E. Superior St. #200
Duluth MN 55802
(800) 381-4743
http://www.newmoon.org/index.htm
Edited by and for girls ages 8-14.
Novel Knowledge
Tired of book reports? Why not post yours as a book review? Check out this site. Novel types include realistic, mystery, fantasy and science fiction, action, historical, sports, biography and non-fiction.
Site Editor: Delia DeCourcy
http://web1.caryacademy.org/facultywebs/delia_decourcy/BookReviewMidlink/Default.htm
For readers 5th grade and up.
Piccadilly Press
5 Castle Road
London NW1 8PR
Tel +44 (0) 20 7267 4492
http://www.piccadillypress.co.uk/
Picture books and teen novels.
Potluck Children's Literary Magazine
P.O. Box 546
924 Holmes Ave.
Deerfield, IL 60015-0546
(847) 948-1139
http://potluckmagazine.org/
Publishes poetry, short stories, fables, book reviews, and artwork by young writers and artists ages 8-16 (even some as young as 4!).
Scriptorium Scribbles
Sherry D. Ramsey, Publisher/Editor
Sydney Mines
Nova Scotia, B1V 2X1 Canada
http://www.thescriptorium.net/youth.html, submission guidelines at http://www.thescriptorium.net/submissions.html
"The young writers' resource webzine."
Seven Hills Review, A Teen Zine
Teen Coordinator
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
800 Vine St
Cincinnati, OH 45202-2009
http://teenspace.cincinnatilibrary.org/sevenhillsreview/,
Submission Guidelines at http://teenspace.cincinnatilibrary.org/sevenhillsreview/autumn2004/howto.asp
Teens grades 7 through 12 are invited to submit creative writing, artwork and photographs. Seven Hills Review is published in the fall, winter and spring.
Skipping Stones
P.O. Box 3939
Eugene, OR 97403
(541) 342-4956
http://www.skippingstones.org/
For children ages 7-18.
Speak Up Press
(online submissions only)
SpeakUPres@aol.com
http://www.speakuppress.org/
For young adults ages 13-19, publishing non-fiction, poetry, plays, photography, and artwork.
Stone Soup
P.O. Box 83
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
(800) 447-4569
editor@stonesoup.com
http://www.stonesoup.com/
Welcomes stories, poems, book reviews, and art by young people through age 13.
Student Bylines
P.O. Box 1031
Veradale WA 99037-1031
http://www.studentbylines.com/
"Where students get published--and paid!" Written by teens interested in art, photography, or writing of any kind (currently prints one issue annually).
Teen Ink
PO Box 30
Newton, MA 02461
(617) 964-6800
editor@teenink.com
Accepts fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art by teens 13 to 19 years old.
http://teenink.com/Submissions/
White Barn Press
(online submissions only)
Editor/Owner: Suzanne Meyer
http://www.whitebarnpress.com/INDEX.ASPX?nodeidp=41
Check out this site for writing prompts and ideas, and to read others' work.
Word Dance
http://www.worddance.com/
A quarterly non-profit creative writing and art publication that is 100% for and by kids (K-8th grade).
Writer's Window
Content Editor: Anne Girven, agirven@unitec.ac.nz
http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/writers/home.html
A site for young writers (ages 5 to 18) to publish their original work, or contribute to a "continuous story" online.
Young Writers' Clubhouse
Sponsored by author Deborah Morris
Real Kids Real Adventures
PO Box 461572
Garland TX 75046-1572
http://www.realkids.com/club.shtml
Announces regular essay contests.
ZuZu
Restless Youth Press
271 East 10th St. #64
New York City, NY 10009
http://www.zuzu.org/write.html
For young artists, photographers and writers. "Help! Right now, we need photos and drawings by kids!"
The InnermoonLit Award for Young Fiction Writers, sponsored by Brian Agincourt Massey, details at http://www.brianagincourtmassey.com/contests/bfcguidelines.html. This site sponsors occasional contests for students. "Open to writers 17 years old and younger." In previous contests, entry was FREE (no fees) and authors retain rights to their work.
Cicada Magazine, for readers ages 14-21. Not limited to teen writers but encourages teen submissions; pays up to 25 cents/word. http://www.cricketmag.com/ProductDetail.asp?pid=11
Other Publication Venues
Amazing Kids
Children’s Express (news articles)
Claremont Review - (ages 13-19) no science fiction or fantasy
Crunch an on-line zine to share ideas and opinions
Cyberkids an online zine for kids 7-12 Submission guidelines
Frodo's Notebook on-line zine for teens 13-19
Kahani
Kid Authors online zine for ages 6-18
Kid Pub
Kid World
KidLit an on-line zine for kids
Kids Online Magazine
Kids Think Link
Midlink Magazine
New Moon edited by and for girls ages 8-14
Potluck Children's Literary Magaine for ages 8-16
PUSH
Resources for Young Writers; a huge site maintained by science fiction writer David Barr Kirtley with contest, resource, and publication links
Scriptorium Scribbles
Shorelines Magazine published twice a year by Shawnigan Lake School (BC, Canada) for writers 12-20
Skipping Stones - a multicultural magazines accepts non-fiction submission from ages 8-16
Speak Up annual print literary journal for ages 13-19; not accepting submissions in 2005
Spring Tides published by The Savannah Country Day School. Accepts submissions from ages 5-12
Springfield Library’s Teen Site
StoneSoup print magazine and on-line archive for writers and artists through age 13
Talented Kids
Teen Writers and Dreams
The Louisville Review accepts poetry from grades K-12
The Slam on-line publishing associated with Cicada magazine
The Squid on-line zine accepting fiction from writers 12-18
The Third Pole
The Writers' Slate
The Young Writers Club currently not accepting new submissions
Voices at READ magazine
World Dance
Young People's Press
Young Voices accepts work from students in elementary through high school
Young Writer: The Magazine For Children With Something To Say
Young Writers at SmartWriters.com
Young Writers Clubhouse
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